Mark Carney’s steady hand and global financial expertise propelled the Liberal Party to a decisive election win on April 28, 2025. Campaigning against U.S. tariffs and domestic economic woes, Carney’s pledges to scrap the carbon tax and diversify trade resonated, handing the Liberals a strong mandate to navigate Canada’s turbulent future.
BY PC Bureau
In a stunning political turnaround, Canada’s Liberal Party, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, secured a decisive victory in Monday’s national election, earning Carney a full term as the nation’s leader. The win, projected by CBC/Radio Canada, marks a remarkable resurgence for the Liberals, who just months ago faced near-certain defeat amid economic challenges and political fatigue after nearly a decade in power.
Carney, a former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, emerged as the Liberal Party’s leader in March 2025, succeeding Justin Trudeau, who stepped down amid declining approval ratings. A political novice with a formidable economic pedigree, Carney capitalized on a surge of Canadian nationalism sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive trade policies and provocative rhetoric, including threats to annex Canada as the “51st state.”
The election, described by voters and candidates as one of the most consequential in a generation, was dominated by concerns over Canada’s sovereignty and economic stability. Trump’s imposition of a 25% tariff on Canadian goods, with a 10% duty on energy imports, fueled fears of a looming recession and galvanized support for Carney’s promise of steady, pragmatic leadership. “In trade, as in hockey, Canada will win,” Carney declared during his campaign, a message that resonated deeply with voters.
🚨MARK CARNEY WINS‼️ #CanadaStrong
Way to go Canada! AWESOME job fighting off Trumpism! 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/4Ox7KsfuHv
— Make it Stop – Liberty and Justice for All 💙 (@mcarr2021) April 29, 2025
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Polls leading up to the April 28 election showed the Liberals overcoming a 20-point deficit to the Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre, who had long been favored to win. The Liberals’ lead, bolstered by Carney’s economic expertise and a collapse in support for the New Democratic Party (NDP) and Bloc Québécois, culminated in a projected majority government, with early results suggesting the Liberals secured at least 186 of the 343 seats in the House of Commons, surpassing the 172 needed for a majority.
“This is a mandate to protect Canada’s sovereignty and build a resilient economy,” Carney said in his victory speech at the Liberal election night party in Ottawa, where supporters erupted in cheers as networks called the election. “We will not let external threats define our future. Canadians have spoken, and we will deliver.”
The Conservative Party, which had campaigned on a populist “Canada First” platform, struggled to counter the Liberal surge. Poilievre’s comparisons to Trump, coupled with his focus on domestic issues like the carbon tax, failed to resonate as voters prioritized leadership capable of navigating the U.S. trade crisis. The NDP, led by Jagmeet Singh, and the Bloc Québécois, led by Yves-François Blanchet, faced significant losses, with early results indicating a near-collapse of their seat counts.
Carney’s campaign leaned heavily on his global financial experience, positioning him as uniquely qualified to address the economic fallout from U.S. tariffs and diversify Canada’s trade partnerships. He also distanced himself from Trudeau’s policies, promising to eliminate the consumer carbon tax and cap immigration temporarily to address housing and cost-of-living concerns. These moves broadened his appeal, particularly in vote-rich urban areas and Quebec, where the Liberals saw a dramatic rebound.
Despite the Liberals’ strong showing, results in some key electoral districts remain too close to confirm whether Carney’s government will secure a full majority or a strong minority, marking the third consecutive election with such uncertainty. A record 7.3 million Canadians voted in advance polls, reflecting heightened public engagement in an election framed as a referendum on Canada’s future.
The campaign was not without challenges. Carney faced criticism for his ties to Brookfield Asset Management and for supporting a candidate linked to groups representing China’s Communist Party, raising concerns about foreign interference. However, these issues were overshadowed by the broader narrative of national unity against external threats.
As Carney prepares to lead Canada through turbulent times, analysts credit his victory to a combination of strategic campaigning, Trump’s polarizing influence, and a public desire for competent, crisis-tested leadership. “Mark Carney came along at really the right time,” said David Coletto, chair of Abacus Data. “It absolutely feels like he was made for this.”
Carney, who won his first election as a Member of Parliament in the riding of Nepean, is expected to outline his government’s priorities in the coming weeks, with a focus on trade negotiations, economic diversification, and strengthening Canada’s global standing. For now, the nation celebrates a victory that few saw coming, reaffirming its resolve to chart its own course.
